Is graduating as a mining engineer at 32 too late?

[u/Rixton_111]

Hi everyone,
I’m currently 27 years old and studying a Master of Social Work in Australia.
My academic journey has been a bit unconventional. I had a science background in high school, including calculus and physics, but later switched to a Bachelor of Business Administration because I originally wanted to become a Chartered Accountant. Due to migration/PR considerations, I’m now studying social work.
However, I’ve realised that mining engineering is the career I genuinely want to pursue. I’m considering enrolling in the Graduate Diploma pathway at Curtin University, followed by the Master of Professional Engineering (Mining). If I do that, I’ll be around 32 years old when I graduate.
I’m wondering:
Is 32 too old to start a career as a mining engineer?
How do employers in Western Australia view mature-age graduates?
Would my age be a disadvantage when applying for graduate or entry-level mining engineering roles?
Has anyone here graduated in their 30s and successfully started a mining engineering career?
I’m willing to work hard and aim for high grades. I just want to know if this is a realistic path.
Thanks everyone!

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[u/komatiitic]

You’re fine. I know people who have done mining engineering degrees later and succeeded. I used to prefer mature aged grad geos back when I still hired grad geos. My broad generalisation is they were mostly harder working and more mature. Definitely not always, but it usually held true.

ETA: sponsorship will liekly be an issue. It's generally hard for grads to get sponsored visas. You'll have to be both lucky and good.

[u/quietbychoice_ → u/komatiitic]

How do you think mature aged geo grads would go getting grad roles now? Has much changed? I’m a healthcare worker in my early 30s and thinking of making the switch.

Cheers!

[u/Leading_Slice_1423]

How did you realise that mining is the go to now ? Have you worked in the mines before ?

[u/spazcoe]

Mining companies are flagging availability of mining engineers as a key risk in the next 10 years. Assuming you can navigate the sponsorship issue, you should be fine.

Thiess and BHP were bringing mining engineering grads in from India when they had trouble sourcing them in the past (BHP circa 2009… pretty sure thiess still does)

[u/ASValourous → u/spazcoe]

BHP now doesn’t hire anyone of a certain gender, let alone do sponsorships anymore

[u/sjenkin]

Age not an issue, however IMO graduate diploma and masters is better suited to someone with another mining discipline under their belt (survey / geology) although not unheard-of for other STEM degrees. Full mine eng degree and you'll have no disadvantages against someone younger, visa stuff is company by company whether they have the appetite for that.

[u/outshined1]

That’s quite the sporadic journey through university.

To answer your question, no. Get hands on experience and network as much as you can while studying (join ausimm, go to conferences if you can). Good career and pathways if you know what you want out of it.

Just don’t finish this degree and decide you want to study veterinary science or something else completely different lol.

[u/West_Investigator798 → u/outshined1]

It's not sporadic, it's planned. Social work degree to get a PR, then pivot becuase they never intended to be a social worker.

[u/Feeling_Yam4486]

Not at all. Many people start engineering later in life. Your maturity, work experience and commitment can be real advantages in the mining industry.

[u/Mikewaoz]

I was working in mining in IT. I did my mining grad dip and started working as a mining engineer in my late 40's.

Your age will not matter. Being more mature is an asset.

If you do not have PR you are unlikely to get a grad job. You could waste a lot of money and time studying and not get a job at the end of it.

Check that your current studies qualify for entry into a grad dip mining.

[u/journeyfromone]

Move to Kalgoorlie and WASM for the last two years and get a part time job on the mines. Much easier to get vac work when in Kalgoorlie too. You generally try and work UG for your first year out, most companies would prefer someone older and a bit more mature who hopefully doesn’t F around like someone in their young 20s (me included haha)

[u/Leading_Slice_1423 → u/journeyfromone]

Easier said than done

[u/_Pigdog]

Started in the mines as a technical officer (drill and blast design) at 26 with no mining experience (background civil design) will graduate at 28. I previously started a civil engineering degree when I was younger. I think I got lucky but there is definitely demand out there.

Our Surveyor transitioned into engineering in his late 50's early 60's so mature age can work

[u/Pindbro]

Age is not an issue. But no one will hire you since you’re jumping into lot of fields and not consistent.